About ten years ago I started to get into spinning but had to quit because i was a poor college student. Boo! Now I have both money and free time and I want to get back and try spinning again. What do I need to buy as a beginning spinner to get going? I'm looking at a bunch of websites and no one really addresses that. I've still got my drop spindles and some wool and flax fiber that I think will be okay to learn on (it's ten years old). But do I really need to buy carding supplies too? Do I need a niddy noddy? Should I bite the bullet and pony up for a wheel? In case it's relevant I'm learning to knit and I already do embroidery so that's the kind of threads I'd like to spin.

Most importantly where do I look to find a meatspace spinning group? Any suggestions for finding groups in my area?

I think I'd like to participate but I don't know what to ask for from a yarnie. Can someone give me an idea of what constitutes a medium size yarn object? Also is the medium item a firm limit or a jumping off point? Sometimes when I do projects they start out as one simple thing and then morph to the point where they "feel" finished. If that happens I'd be investing more than the recommended time but I don't send a piece out until I feel like it's ready. Most of the time that doesn't happen but sometimes...

I recieved an AWESOME hoop from time today. She chose my Shel Silverstein theme and did the artwork from the poem "My Beard" from the book Where the Sidewalk Ends. This photo really does not do it justice. Time...if you have a better pic please feel free to post. I took this with my laptop.

Believe it or not that worked up in under two hours. I was really surprised but the little guy just came together in a flash. And I'm usually a slow embroiderer. I'm really glad you like it.

Don't worry! I found it right after I last posted and forgot to post pics.Until I read the thread today. Sorry deathbeforedishes I dropped the ball. Here are pics of my(mine dammit mine!) hoop. It's got some seriously neat and tidy stitching. You may not be able to see it in the big pic but you could measure all her stitches and they'd probably be exactly the same length every time.

ETA I will say this: that damn kid is getting really good at hiding things. I found this hoop stuffed into his compound bow case. I knocked the bow case onto the floor when I was searching his closet and was checking to make sure the bow was okay.

I'll post pics of my hoop as soon as I find where my kid stashed it. /he's holding it hostage until I agree to let him have it. I'll have to search his room for it which is something I was trying to avoid.

Averia I know I already pm'd you but did I need to re-send you my questionnaire from round five?

I claim Daisy Tattoo for Shel Silverstein. Send by 8/151/0/0

Daisy Tattoo my internet won't be turned on the apartment until Monday. I'll come back up to the library tomorrow night or Friday night so if you pm me I won't read it until then.

I'm time and this will be my third craftster swap. I'm 37. I live in the DFW metroplex in Texas. I'm not a girly-girl but I can appreciate things done that way if it's witty or satirical. My favorite colors are cobalt blue and emerald green.Actually I prefer the jewel tones over any other shades but I like bright saturated colors in general. The colors I don't like are oranges and browns and pastel or neon shades. I have a dirty, dirty sense of humor and profanity or nudity is just fine. So is anything 'gothic' or 'dark'. I used to be in the SCA and will begin to play again soon. I've got three two furry barfing machines with very sharp claws living with me.

Themes:

1.Futurama anything.2. specific futurama-Zap Brannigan making a smoochy face would be great. -the robot devil-Zoidberg dressed as Jesus with this quote:"Wait a minute, you're not Santa Claus! How dare you lie in front of Jesus!"-'nice' Mom-Bender's scewdriver torso engraving from "Godfellas"-the Momcorp logoeither of these quotes:-Buddha, Zeus, God! One of you guys do something! Help! Satan! You owe me!"-"O cruel fate, to be thusly boned! Ask not for whom the bone bones - it bones for thee."-3.Cats. Fat black cats.4.The Tick cartoon- any kind of hoop with the Tick on it5.Science Fiction related- favorite authors are Larry Niven, John Varley, Anne MacCaffrey and CJ Cherryh6. Finagle's law- this version "The perversity of the Universe tends towards a maximum" or Larry Niven's take on it7. Steampunk inspired hoop8. Girl Genius (the webcomic) inspired hoop